File folder and index tab construction



1944. c. J. BATES 2,357,070

FILE FOLDER AND INDEX TAB CONSTRUCTION Filed July 3, 1945 Fig. 5

Fig. 6

fiharles J. Bales 9% 9M Patented Aug. 29, 1944 FILE FOLDER AND INDEX TAB CONSTRUCTION Charles J. Bates, Englewood, N. .L, assignor to Diebold, lncorporated a corporation of Ohio Application July 3, 1943, Serial No. 493,334

Claims.

The invention relates to file folder and .index tab construction, more particularly for pendent filing equipment, including file folders having sleeves at their upper borders, and suspension bars in the sleeves, the ends of the suspension bars extending beyond the sides of the folders, and being usually provided with downwardly opening notches. The end notches of the suspension bars seat upon spaced side members carried in or by a drawer of a usual filing cabinet, or the like.

Such suspended filing folders are frequently provided. with index tabs removably associated with the file folders.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of improvements in file folder and index tab construction particularly adapted for pendent filing equipment and including separable inter-connecting parts of simplified form and arrangement with each other, and adapted for rapid and economical manufacture and assembly.

The foregoing and other objects ar attained by the file folder and index tab constructions, parts, combinations, and sub-combinations, which comprise the present invention, and the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, and preferred embodiments of which, together with their mode of use are set forth by way of example in the following description, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of the file folder and index tab construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including in a file folder and the like, folder walls forming a longitudinally extending sleeve usually at one border, one of the sleeve walls having formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots, an index tab including a sleeve located between the folder sleeve slots, and a bar extending through the folder sleeve'at opposite sides of the slots and through the slots and index tab sleeve therebetween.

The bar and the index tab sleeve are preferably provided with one or more sets of interfitting formations, such as an aperture in the bar and a projection in the index tab sleeve protruding into the bar aperture, which serve to hold the folder against lateral movement on the' bar.

By way of example, embodiments of the invention in pendent filing equipment are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating pendent filing equipment including the present improvements;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary enlarged perspective view 5 illustrating details of the improved file folder and index tab construction;

Fig. 3, a detached front elevation view of one.

of the index tabs of the improved construction;

Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical section of the index tab of Fig. 3, as on line 4-4, Fig. 3.;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary detached elevation view of one of the suspension bars of the improved file folder and index tab construction;

Fig. 6, a detached fragmentary elevation view of the border portion of one of the folders of the improved construction.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The pendent filing equipment, embodying examples of the present improvements, as shown in the drawing, includes a plurality of file folders, each indicated generally by I0, and each having at each upper border walls forming a fiat sleeve indicated generally by H. A fiat suspension bar indicated generally by I2 is located in each sleeve II, and each end l3 of each bar [2 extends beyond one side of the folder l0 and is formed with a downwardly opening notch II. The suspension bar end notches l4 seat upon spaced side members l5 which may be carried in or by a drawer of a usual filing cabinet, not shown.

According to the present improvements, one of the folder sleeves ll of each folder H) has one wall -I l-l which may be an inner wall as shown, and which has formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots I'G.

Each folder is thus provided with longitudinally spaced sleeve portions H2 and H3 at opposite sides of the slots I6.

An index tab indicated generally by H and preferably made of transparent material, such as Celluloid, includes a lower fiat sleeve. 18 located in the assembled construction between adjacent folder sleeve slots l6 and adjacent sleeve portions "-2 and H3, or ll3 of the folder sleeve. The index tab sleeve I8 is aligned with the folder sleeve portions H-2 and I l3.' The index tab I! as shown includes an upperfiat sleeve 19 side by side'with the lower sleeve It, the upper sleeve [9 being adapted to receive an index strip, not

shown. I

As shown in Fig. 2, one of the suspension bars l2 extends through folder sleeve portions ll-2 and "-3 and the lower sleeve portion it of the index tab l1, abutting against an intervening folder sleeve portion "-3.

The bar I! and the index tab sleeve ii! are preferably provided with one or more sets of separably interfitting formations, such as an aperture recess 20' in the bar and a projection 2| on the index tab sleeve I8 protruding into the bar aperture 20.

The improved file folder and index tab construction, illustrated and described herein, is thus formed of separable inter-connecting parts of simplified form and arrangement with each other, and adapted for rapid and economical manufacture and assembly, and for convenient use.

Wh en desired a plurality of sets of folder sleeve portions may be assembled with a plurality of index tabs, in a manner similar to that illustrated and described for the assembly of the single index tab IT with the folder sleeve portions ll2 and ll3 by the suspension bar l2.

Preferably there is provided a plurality of equal length sleeve portions ll-3 in each sleeve ll, so that a single index tab l1 may be assembled at any desired location between adjacent slots IS in the sleeve i l, as shown in Fig. 1.

The material of the folder. I and the sleeve portions "-2 and il3 thereof, may be heavy paper, fabric, orv other desired sheet material. The suspension bars I2 may be of metal, wood, plastic, and the like. The index tab I! as above indicated may be preferably of transparent material, but may also be made of opaque stiff paper, and the like.

I claim:

1. In file folder and index tab construction, folder walls forming a longitudinally extending sleeve, one of the sleeve walls having formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots, an index tab including a sleeve located between the folder sleeve slots, and a bar extending through the folder sleev at opposite sides of the slots and through the slots and the index tab sleeve therebetween.

2. In file folder and index tab construction, folder border walls forming a longitudinally extending sleeve, one of the sleeve walls having formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots, an index tab including a sleeve located bctween th folder sleeve slots, and a bar extending through the folder sleeve at opposite sides of the slots and through the slots and the index tab sleeve therebetween.

3. In file folder and index tab construction,

, the folder sleeve at opposite sides of the slots and through the slots in the index tab sleeve therebetween, the bar and the index tab sleeve having a set of two interfltting formations.

4. In file folder and index tab construction, folder walls forming a longitudinally extending sleeve, one of the sleeve walls having formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots, an index tab including a sleeve located between the folder sleeve slots, and a bar extending through th folder sleeve at opposite sides of the slots and through the slots and the index tab sleeve therebetween, the bar and the index tab sleeve having a set of two interfitting formations, one of the formations being a recess and the other formation being a projection.

5. In file folder and index tab construction, folder walls forming a longitudinally extending flat sleeve, one of. the sleeve walls having formed therein longitudinally spaced transverse slots, an index tab including a flat sleeve located between the folder sleeve slots, and a fiat bar extending 

